A First War Memorial Cross to the 1st Army Auxiliary Horse

A First War Memorial Cross to the 1st Army Auxiliary Horse - British War Medal (512075 PTE. W. DUNCAN. C.A.S.C.); Victory Medal (512075 PTE. W. DUNCAN. C.A.S.C.); and Memorial Cross, George V (512076 Pte. W. DUNCAN.). Naming is officially impressed on the pair and officially engraved on the Memorial Cross. Unmounted, very crisp detail, dark patina on BWM, light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by a DVD containing copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records and Will. Footnote: William Duncan was born on January 31, 1892 in Kincardineshire, Scotland. He signed his Attestation Paper on October 7, 1915 at Camp Hughes, stating that he had previous service with an Active Militia, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Driver. Camp Hughes was a military training camp, located in the Rural Municipality of North Cypress west of the town of Carberry in Manitoba. The name of the camp was changed in 1915 from Camp Sewell to Camp Hughes, in honour of Major-General Sir Sam Hughes, Canada's Minister of Militia and Defence at the time. Extensive trench systems, grenade and rifle ranges, and military structures were built at Camp Hughes between 1915 and 1916, and a variety of retail stores and entertainment complexes on a double-avenued area close to the main camp formed a lively commercial midway. During World War I, more than 38,000 troops of the Canadian Expeditionary Force trained at the camp, and by 1916 it had grown to such a large size that it had the largest population of any city in the province of Manitoba outside of the capital city, Winnipeg. Many of the soldiers who trained at Camp Hughes were later involved in the infamous Battle of Vimy Ridge in France on April 9, 1917. Duncan arrived in England aboard S.S. Lapland on December 5, 1915 and was taken on strength at Shorncliffe. He was stuck off strength and transferred to Pool Case on January 15, 1916, arriving in the field on the 16th. After one month, on February 14th, he was transferred to the 1st Reserve Par and taken on strength on the 18th. Duncan saw action in the French theatre. There is a note in his service records stating "The DES of 1 Res. ParR will be from Midnight, May 27-28, 1918, No. 1 Can. Army Aux. Horse Company". While still in France, he was seriously ill from influenza in early November 1918 and secumed to the sickness on November 5, 1918. He is buried in Arneke British Cemetery, Nord, France, Grave VIII. B. 10. The village of Arneke is approximately 50 kilometres south-east of Calais and about 8 kilometres north-west of the town of Cassel, in the Department of the Nord. His Will stated "In the event of my death I give the whole of my property to my Mother" (Mrs. Allan (Jessie) Duncan of Aberdeenshire, Scotland). She also received his Memorial Cross.

A First War Memorial Cross to the 102nd Canadian Infantry - (105962 Pte. R. SNELGROVE) naming is engraved, in box of issue, very fine footnote: Robert Snelgrove was born in Saskatchewan in 1897 and worked as a Farmer until he enlisted in March 1916. Robert was killed in action on February 18th 1917 and is buried at Villers Station Cemetery.

A First War Memorial Cross to Captain Robert Neilson CEF - British War Medal (CAPT. R.M. NEILSON.); and Memorial Cross, George V (Capt. R.M. NEILSON). Naming is officially impressed on the BWM and privately engraved on the MC. Un-mounted, semi-dark patina and original ribbon on the BWM, frosted patina on the obverse of the MC (issued in 1936), extremely fine. The MC in its hardshelled case of issue, missing its medal bed, light soiling on the lid, case very fine. Accompanied by a letter from the Department of National Defence (Militia Service) in Ottawa (dated February 1, 1936, addressed to his mother, Mrs. Alice Delanaudire of Montreal, stating that a Memorial Cross was being prepared for her, as her son's death was related to his military service, 205 mm x 252 mm, fold marks and tears).Footnote: Robert Morehead Neilson (sometimes referred to in his records as Robert Moorhead Neilson) was born on August 11, 1889 in Trois Rivieres (AKA Three Rivers) Quebec, the son of Norman R. Morehead and Alice Morehead. He was a resident of Quebec City, Quebec when he signed his Officers' Declaration Paper as a Captain on May 29, 1917 at Quebec City, at the age of 27, naming his next-of-kin as father, Norman R. Morehead of Quebec City (which was later changed to his wife, Ethel Neilson of Grande Riviere Co. Gaspe, Quebec), stating that he had been serving with the Canadian Army Medical Corps since June 19, 1915, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Physician. The couple had one daughter at the time of his signing, Ethel, age 9. Neilson embarked Montreal, Quebec on May 31, 1917, arriving in Holyhead, Wales on June 13th. He was posted to the Canadian Army Medical Depot at Westenhanger, then attached to the 2nd Canadian Reserve Brigade for six weeks, from July 20 to September 2, 1917. Neilson contracted some sort of illness but his records do not indicate its nature. He was assessed by a Medical Board at Shorncliffe on August 21, 1917, where it was determined that he needed to seek "further medical treatment" in Canada. He was struck off strength for return to Canada, departing Liverpool, England on September 13, 1917. Upon arrival in Canada, he was treated at two facilities as an outpatient: S.P.C. Hospital until November 5, 1917 and at H.H.C.C., both in Quebec City. Neilson was taken on strength at No. 22 Cavalry Field Ambulance, Canadian Army Medical Corps in Regina, Saskatchewan, on May 20, 1918, where he was struck off strength as "Physically Unfit" due to "sickness" and ordered to seek "further treatment". For his First World War Service, Neilson was awarded the British War Medal. He died on September 27, 1935, his death determined to be related to his CEF military service. In a letter from A.C. Chadwick for the Officer in Charge of Records, for the Adjutant-General, Department of National Defence (Militia Service) in Ottawa, dated February 1, 1936, addressed to his mother, Mrs. Alice Delanaudire of Montreal, regarding Captain Robert M. Neilson, it states that she was entitled to a Memorial Cross: "Dear Madam:- There is issuable to the mothers of those soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force whose deaths are related to military service, a silver Memorial Cross, given by the Canadian Government as a token of appreciation of the sacrifice made by them. This Department having been advised that the death of your son, the ex-soldier marginally noted, was related to his military service, a Memorial Cross is being prepared and will be forwarded to you in due course." Memorial Crosses were later forwarded to his widow, Mrs. Alexina Beaudin Neilson of Montreal (indicating that he must have re-married) and to his mother, Mrs. Alice Delanaudire of Montreal. He is acknowledged as having had another daughter, Annette.

Memorial Cross to Acting Sergeant Thomas D. Carmichael, Canadian Forestry Corps - George V (2251106 A-Sgt. T.D. CARMICHAEL). Naming is officially engraved. Dark patina, on original neck ribbon, extremely fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, lightly soiled interior, case very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records and Discharge Certificates.
Footnote: Thomas Davis Carmichael was born on January 26, 1870 in Weastmeath Township, Renfrew County, Ontario. He was married to Margaret Carmichael and together they had four sons (Hugh, Devreau, Clifton and Kenneth), all of which were young adults when their father enlisted in the CEF. He signed his Attestation Paper as part of No. 4 Haileybury Forestry Draft, on March 28, 1917 in Sudbury, Ontario, at the age of 47, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Margaret Carmichael of Haileybury, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Married and that his trades were that of Miner, Carpenter and Millwright. He was well above the average age of a CEF man and embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Justicia, on June 22, 1917, arriving in Liverpool, England on July 5th and taken on strength at the Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot at Sunningdale. Three weeks later, he was posted to No. 60 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps in France on July 28, 1917, arriving in France and appointed Acting Sergeant on the 30th. His continued exposure to damp surroundings in the Fall, along with an old infection in his left knee, forced Carmichael to be admitted to Marseille Stationary Hospital in Marseille, France on November 8, 1917, where he also reverted to the rank of Private upon admission. It was determined that his condition necessitated that he be invalided to England on December 9th and was admitted to Bath War Hospital the following day. After almost four weeks at Bath, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bearwood, Wokingham, Berkshire on January 5, 1918, where he was described as having "Rheumatism". It was at Bearwood that his true age and condition were documented: "Patient is 57 years old (and) suffers from Myalgia (muscle pain, a symptom of many diseases and disorders) pains in (the) back and legs." His condition was not improving, when he was transferred to No. 5 Canadian General Hospital, Kirkdale at Liverpool on February 22nd, where it was noted that he "Looks older than (his) stated age. Has palpable vessels, probably general arteriosclerosis. Complains of pain in limb." Carmichael was invalided to Canada on March 28th, aboard His Majesty's Hospital Ship Llandovery Castle, with "no change" to his condition during the voyage, arriving in Canada on April 8th. He was transferred from the Clearing Depot to the Hospital Section at Whitby Military Hospital on April 11, 1918, where he would be treated until May 21st. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated May 16, 1918 at Whitby Military Hospital, his age was confirmed as 57, which would have made him 56 and not the 47 he stated when he enlisted in March 1917. The Medical Officer noted that "He has slight pains in (his) left knee and leg especially in damp weather." and that "Five years ago (1913) he sprained his left knee, was in bed one week. Knee swelled. No trouble in it until Nov. 1917 when he was exposed to wet weather it became painful. He has weak near sight but no more son than usual for his age. He is wearing properly fitted glasses which give relief in close work." The Medical Officer recommended that Carmichael be discharged. He was transferred to the Casualty Company on May 30th and was discharged due to "Physical Unfitness" on June 14, 1918, at Military District No. 2 in Toronto, Ontario, his age stated as 57 and his conduct noted as "Very Good", credited with having served in England and France. He died on September 16, 1930, at the age of 79 and since his medical problems were discovered when he was in the army, his widow, Margaret, received his Memorial Cross.

A First War Memorial Cross to the 43rd Canadian Infantry; KIA - Victory Medal (420693 PTE. J. WEIR. 43-CAN.INF.); and Memorial Cross, GRV (420693. Pte. J. WEIR.). Naming is officially impressed on the VM and officially engraved on the MC. Dark patina on the MC, extremely fine. Footnote: James Weir was born on July 25, 1882 in Belfast, Ireland. He was a resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (420693) with the 43rd Infantry Battalion "Cameron Highlanders", on January 5, 1915 in Winnipeg, at the age of 32, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Sarah Weir, stating that he had previous service with the Royal Irish Rifles, that he was Married and that his trade was that of Teamster. The Battalion was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which was also the mobilization headquarters, under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915. The Battalion left Canada on June 1, 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R.M. Thomson with a strength of 40 officers and 998 other ranks. The Battalion served in France and Belgium with the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division. Private Weir was with the 43rd Infantry Battalion when he was Killed in Action on September 2, 1916, during the Battle of the Somme and is remembered with honour on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. At the base of the memorial, these words appear in French and in English: "TO THE VALOUR OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN IN THE GREAT WAR AND IN MEMORY OF THEIR SIXTY THOUSAND DEAD THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY THE PEOPLE OF CANADA." Inscribed on the ramparts of the Vimy Memorial are the names of over 11,000 Canadian soldiers who were posted as "'missing, presumed dead" in France. He is commemorated on page 180 of the First World War Book of Remembrance